(Much) shorter backswing on Driver

[Grumpter]

This year I joined a league on a course I have usually avoided due to out of bounds on every hole and not much room to bale to the opposite side. In the beginning of the season I just resolved to hit clubs I might not normally hit (like one hole at about 300 yards that I play Chicken Wedge for the tee and approach). However, recently I have been toying with a much shorter backswing on my Driver where the backswing is what I consider about a half swing. This seems to be working fairly well over 3 rounds but is not a large enough sample size for my liking. Has anyone else gone to such a swing for tighter courses? I tried a slower swing but that messed up my timing and I never got consistent results from it.

[mvmac]

However, recently I have been toying with a much shorter backswing on my Driver where the backswing is what I consider about a half swing.

Yeah probably not as short as it feels but shortening the backswing works for a lot of players. Golfers tend to let the arms "run on" and shorter helps keep the arms more in sync with the pivot.

[DaveP043]

I've done this, with a feeling akin to a hockey player's slap shot.  I feel a nearly normal shoulder turn, my left (lead) arm across my chest, just a little shorter than normal,  but the feeling of relatively minimal wrist cock, so that most of the power comes from the unwinding of the lower body.  Its amazing how far the ball goes, and much more consistently.  Could that be a message to take for every shot I play?

[Grumpter]

"Its amazing how far the ball goes, and much more consistently". Yeah, I was playing with a younger guy last night and he had a bigger swing. He hit the ball hard but on many occasions I ended up closer to the hole due to consistency (straighter or more on line). When I had the room to lay into one I would still do the full swing. I hope the experiment continues to work.

[GolfLug]

Thumbs up. You must keep your backswing mostly on plane or maybe slightly below so that you start DS mostly on plane, in which case shorten away - works great, IMO.

I have trouble with consciously shortening BS as I am still working on keeping the club close to plane on BS (which is too steep) until I finish the BS all the way and then drop it on plane. In effect I get caught off plane if I shorten it.

So, yeah, now I am working stay shallowish on BS and then hopefully be able to work a shorter BS.

[Hatchman]

Yep, that's me too. I have a shallow or flat swing with a short BS that I try and power down the target line. Developed over time from leg injuries but helpful on tight fairways or hitting to spots. Or trying at least. Also, on very narrow shots OB, Water, house doesn't matter or effect me now I like to use a higher dimpled ball (370+) for tighter flight pattern. Works good with this swing. A little loss on green control though.

[isukgolf]

I too shorten my driver swing to keep it off the roof tops; however, since getting instruction and using evolvr, I am getting back more of my swing. In fact, today was full swing day at the range with a friend that is instructor. Noe my back hurts because i have not turn that much in so long.

[Jameson]

Yeah probably not as short as it feels but shortening the backswing works for a lot of players. Golfers tend to let the arms "run on" and shorter helps keep the arms more in sync with the pivot.

Wise words.

With my driver i´m doing this with good results. But even when I feel a medium swing, my driver gets parallel with the ground (no more). The tough part for me is to rotate my shoulders but not letting go my arms...

[boogielicious]

This year I joined a league on a course I have usually avoided due to out of bounds on every hole and not much room to bale to the opposite side. In the beginning of the season I just resolved to hit clubs I might not normally hit (like one hole at about 300 yards that I play Chicken Wedge for the tee and approach). However, recently I have been toying with a much shorter backswing on my Driver where the backswing is what I consider about a half swing. This seems to be working fairly well over 3 rounds but is not a large enough sample size for my liking. Has anyone else gone to such a swing for tighter courses? I tried a slower swing but that messed up my timing and I never got consistent results from it.

I started working on are shorter feeling backswing after reading this thread.

This drill from the thread is by my Evolvr instructor Stephan, @sk golf .  It is a great drill and feel.

[Grumpter]

This drill from the thread is by my Evolvr instructor Stephan, @sk golf.  It is a great drill and feel.

Nice. I will have to give this a try. I played 9 this morning and of the 6 Driver tee shots I only had 4 'good' shots but the 2 'bad' shots didn't get me in trouble which is key. I was able to make it on in regulation on both 'bad' Driver shots.

Now I am trying to get out of work early and play another 18 this afternoon.

[Kp5512]

Last month I altered my swing and shortening the BS was a big part of it to try to gain more control from the tee. I had fallen into the habit of swinging for the fence and was lucky to have four or five drives in the short grass. I now average 10 fairways hit, (includes first cut), with a 220 yd avg over the last 7 rounds. It is helping me at this point. Now if only I could hit a green!

[Grumpter]

I am still working on it and I have to think it was a big part of my recent success. First time ever shooting under 70 and/or under par for 18.